The pre-tertiary strike by the teacher unions is having a serious impact.
Accra Central Aayalolo Cluster of Schools students take advantage of unsupervised playtime. When they go to class, they leave their bags at the door and run to the playground.
They walked the field, kicking a football as if it were the World Cup, sweat trickling down their faces. When there were no football games going on, several students seized trees and climbed them. While some people play cards, younger pupils sing.
Some of the pupils, though, are scared and uneasy among all the excitement and planned turmoil. The Basic Education Certificate Examinations (B.E.C.E.) are planned for them to take in October. According to their statements, if the strike goes on and they If students do poorly on their examinations, they will accuse the government.
"We shall write our BECE on October 17th. There is only the President to blame if we all fail. Considering that he is the one responsible for our teacher and other school materials. This statement was made by Ibrahim Mohammed, a JHS 3 student at Ashia Mills Basic School in Accra's Aayalolo Cluster of Schools.
Ibrahim believes that some of his instructors may surprise them by turning up to teach even if they are on strike.
Three of our teachers educated us about "Religious and Moral Education" yesterday before leaving the building. However, no teacher has come in today. Adwoa Adjei mentioned a different student at Ashia Mills School. The four teacher unions went on strike on Monday, calling for a 20% Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) since their earnings have been eroded by high inflation, high gasoline prices, and high prices for products and services.
The students want the President to accede to the requests of the teachers so that they may go back to the classrooms and instruct.
"Teachers in private schools are not on strike. The same final exams that they write will also be written by us. Our parents brought us here because they are not wealthy. the President is required to pay our instructors. Declared Ibrahim Mohammed.
More than 1000 children attend the Aayalolo Cluster of Schools. Eight (8) separate schools are housed on the same property. Children from James Town, Old Fadama, and Agbogbloshie attend these schools. They were brought to this school by their parents, who couldn't afford to send them to a reputable private school, in the hopes that they would learn something and rise to prominence. However, their instructors are on strike.
The teachers' strike, according to the pupils, is a major cause of anxiety for them, but their schools' subpar facilities are also a source of concern.
These universities are death traps. Three school's foundations are dangling and exposed. A catastrophe may occur at any time if the pillars gave way. There are holes in the roofs.
Two NDC government-initiated projects have been inactive for many years, forcing the children of Aayalolo to attend school in a deplorable setting.